'Incredibly happy' Arthur seeks redemption

He is running towards me, moving more athletically than I imagined. Tall and broad shouldered, Mickey Arthur is more imposing than he appears on television. This shouldn't have been a revelation, yet I find myself slightly awestruck. Finally, I meet him in person at Christchurch Grammar School - Arthur's new employer after his dramatic sacking by Cricket Australia on Ashes eve in June.

No longer is he merely a caricature.

The man perceived with an inability to manage a group of disparate Australian cricketers had copped unmerciful bile tinged with slander from public and press pre-sacking. Arthur was smeared in the proverbial mud most prejudicially from several former Australian luminaries, whose narcissistic salvos perturbs in its callousness, but more worryingly the barbs are generally feted as lore.

I had never met Arthur but I felt like I knew him. As an Australian cricket tragic, how could I not? Arthur was a virtual walking headline during a tumultuous first half of the year for Australia. He was more reminiscent of an Aussie Rules coach, stoutly fronting the press following disastrous losses and embarrassing scandals that continually plagued the beleaguered team. Arthur was no invisible cricket coach.

Despite being a punching bag for the likes of Shane Warne to vent vitriol, his unmerciful firing and subsequent contract squabbles, Arthur insists he is not consumed with wrath.

"No, I am not bitter," he says. "I was very disappointed because it was the only job I hadn't finished. I felt I had so much more to offer."

This was not the ending envisioned when he was appointed as Australia's cricket coach in November 2011. At the time, Australia was in a period of transition. Ricky Ponting's reign as captain had ended earlier in the year after the ignominy of a humbling Australian Ashes defeat on home terrain - the first in 24 years - and a mediocre quarter-final exit at the 50-over World Cup in India, which ended Australia's monopoly of the coloured clothing's most treasured silverware.

Cricket Australia heavies, yearning for a new dawn, virtually raised the finger to coach Tim Nielsen, who forlornly trudged away into the shadows of international cricket. Michael Clarke succeeded Ponting much to the chagrin of many in the Australian cricket community. Soon after, Mickey Arthur became the first foreigner to be entrusted the reins. A new, sleeker era of Australian cricket was emerging.

It was deemed wise to pair Australia's first Generation Y captain with a strong taskmaster. Cricket Australia was banking on Clarke's exuberance combined with Arthur's ability to harden and unify a team to propel the team back to the top. Helping steel a fragile South African line-up into Test's best had earned Arthur widespread acclaim.

The Clarke/Arthur pairing started positively with an obliteration of a star-laden but morbid Indian outfit during the Australian summer of 2011-12. Indeed by the start of 2013, Australia's Test record under Clarke/Arthur was an impressive nine wins from 14 matches.

"We were competing to be the top Test team against South Africa, so we were not far from the pace of the very best teams," Arthur says.

Ultimately, that turned out to be the beginning of the end for the Arthur era. The disastrous Indian tour in March, the site of Australia's most insipid performance in decades, was the start of a swift spiral.

"In India we were hijacked," Arthur laments. "The wickets were terrible and matches were starting on wickets turning square. People were saying that the players were experienced in Indian conditions, but they forget that was in T20 cricket which is totally different to Tests."

Being befuddled on notorious Indian dustbowls could garner some pathos, but the team's apparent deplorable discipline off field was inexcusable for an Australian cricket public used to their team being on a pedestal. The infamous 'homework' scandal, which saw Mitchell Johnson, Shane Watson, James Pattinson and Usman Khawaja disciplined for failing to adhere to a team task, reduced Australian cricket to an international punch line, normally reserved for teams such as the West Indies and Pakistan.

It might be argued that Arthur's clich?d "line in the sand" spiel in the wake of homeworkgate was his undoing. Not necessarily for espousing the hackneyed metaphor but for his inability to enact it. Returning to Australia for the birth of his child shortly after the scandal, Watson unleashed a juvenile tantrum unacceptable for a senior member of the team. Instead of abiding by his mantra, Arthur kowtowed and Watson became Australia's 44th Test captain as stand-in for an injured Clarke in the Fourth Test in India.

It's not a stretch to believe his credibility as a stern disciplinarian was eroded with that decision. Arthur's straight-shooting approach seemed mired in contradictions. Had he become damaged goods? Had he lost the team?

"I believe I had the support of the team and we were in pretty good spirits, considering the circumstances. My relationship with Watson was difficult. He has his own way of doing things and that presented problems for what I was trying to achieve," Arthur says.

After enduring the scandal that rocked his leadership, Arthur finds mirth at the irony of his new situation as cricket director of a school.

"The kids certainly do their homework here," Arthur chuckles with a joke he has probably delivered countless times recently. "The boys are great and really train hard."

Managing eclectic egos and the associated shenanigans detracts from the prestigious position of an international coach, according to Arthur. He says he has found solace in coaching at the grassroots level during his stint at Christchurch.

"Elite level coaching is about managing people and it is a departure from physical coaching. Coaching at the highest level is about giving clear role definition and sorting strategy out. Here at Christchurch, I am actually coaching hands on. It is back to the essence of coaching. I am really enjoying it and it has been good to see the kids improve," Arthur believes.

It was easy to feel sympathy for Arthur after his tumultuous exit from Australia cricket, but life has progressed smoothly since. His gig at Christchurch not only yields self-satisfaction but also a steady pay check and scope to setup a high performance cricket academy.

"I use Christchurch's facilities for my academy, which currently I offer private coaching and holiday clinics," he says.

As I see a group of students approach the nets for an Arthur-led training session, I begin to wrap up the interview. But the affable Arthur engages in more cricket chinwag. His eloquence is laced with passion.

Shaun Marsh's future?

"I hope he can make it back and play in the Ashes. Injuries and his susceptibility with the mental side have been the issue. At 30, it's the last chance for him. He needs to grasp his opportunities."

Best cricketer he's coached?

"Jacques Kallis is the best all-round cricketer, and is just the ultimate professional but he's so laid back that nothing fazes him. Clarke and Amla would be also on the shortlist. Ricky Ponting was a great player, and the ultimate team man, but I only coached him towards the end"

Ashes prediction?

"I think it will be 2-2. Australia will perform better and should win a couple of Test matches. Their bowling attack on Aussie wickets should be good enough to win Tests.".

Arthur's cricket acumen has become a prized commodity in the Perth media, having recently inked deals with television, radio and print outlets. His hectic schedule also involves consultancy with the Western Force - WA's rugby union team - and other corporate work.

There is a sense of absolute authenticity in those words. It is evident Arthur is enjoying a breather from the strenuous rigorous of elite coaching. But his extended passionate spiel has reinforced the gnawing still simmering within. Eventually, Arthur's yearn for resurrection will resurface. Arthur is no delusional soul. He understands cricket coaching at the elite is in his blood. It is too intoxicating.

"I am prepared to take a cooling off period," he says, before adding "Ultimately, I want to coach again at a high level."